Top 33 Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Tools

Application lifecycle management refers to a set of processes that govern how businesses manage software projects and investments from inception to completion. As a result, Application lifecycle management tools are a part of the larger market for IT projects and product management, but it emphasizes a stronger link between business processes and software engineering.

When organizations choose an application lifecycle management software suite, they can save time and money while also significantly simplifying application lifecycle management.

In this article listing the top 33 Application Lifecycle Management(ALM) Tools, we'll go over the top tools, compare the benefits and drawbacks of the best ALM tools, and talk about how to pick the best ALM tools for your company.

1. OneOps

OneOps is a platform for application lifecycle management. This allows developers to code their product once and deploy it across multiple clouds in a hybrid environment.

Key Features:

• It allows for unrestricted innovation.

• It gives developers and IT operations teams back control of cloud environments.

• Works with a variety of public and private cloud infrastructure right out of the box.

• It allows for consistent deployments in any environment.

• Automate in a way that is future-proof and works well with infrastructure.

• With the ability to cancel, the deployment is flexible.

Cost:

There is a free version. OneOps offers a free trial.

2. Relution

Relution is an application lifecycle management (ALM) tool that manages and secures the entire lifecycle of a mobile application. It distributes apps for iOS, Android, and Windows through the app store.

Key Features:

• The distribution of apps is done through a private app store.

• The enterprise app store is where it distributes apps.

• With an app approval process, you can get the best app quality.

Cost:

Relution starts from $1.00 per month.

3. AccelQ

AccelQ ALM tool creates a visual design of the application. Automate test designs while tracking quality assurance using path analysis. It is a functional and API testing platform that runs in the cloud.

Key Features:

• Natural language with no codes API Automation, which is functional.

• There is no IDE required, and the application is completely browser-based and simple to use.

• With accelQ Universe, you can visualize and drive quality.

• 3X faster to design, automate, and maintain testing.

• With the help of Smart View Analyzer, it is possible to manage test assets across multiple application revisions.

Cost:

• Automate Web - $390/user per month

• Automate Mobile - $240/user per month

• Automate API - $70/user per month

• AccelQ Manual - $30/user per month

4. QACube

QACube is a QA testing ALM tool that provides a 360-degree view of various QA activities. It enables the testing team to use the industry's leading visual analytics to identify bottlenecks. It also assists them in making critical resource decisions.

Key Features:

• It assesses the effectiveness of agile test plans across teams.

• To get the most test coverage, prioritize risk-based testing.

• Give key stakeholders the perspectives they require based on their roles.

• It provides management with dynamic dashboards.

• Obtain visibility and transparency across all aspects of the ALM/software testing project.

Cost:

QACube pricing starts at $149.00 per month as a flat rate. There is no free version available. A free trial is available from QACube.

5. NexaStack

NexaStack is a tool for managing applications. It offers Enterprises a highly customizable solution. It provides Enterprise applications with flexibility and stability. It also provides Big Data Infrastructure that can be used on-premises or in the cloud.

Key Features:

• From the start, secure the application lifecycle.

• Complete understanding of what's going on in the system.

• Get a thorough examination of your usage, logs, and application processes.

• Rollouts and rollbacks that are automated.

• All types of Microservices Architecture are supported.

Cost:

• Starter - $20/month

• Teams - $25/month

• Enterprise - Custom

6. Visure

Visure is a product of Vision Solutions, Inc. which has totally innovative technologies in key functionality, system performance, standards compliance, and economical solutions to business and security-critical system design requirements as its value propositions.

Key Features:

• Visure provides a specialized, cutting-edge ALM platform for implementing effective requirements lifecycle management and ensuring the highest level of quality in the development of our client’s systems and services.

• Unrivaled system economics that ensures the highest quality while lowering total life cycle costs dramatically.

• Dashboard and Report Customization are two aspects of report management.

Cost:

Visure has a free trial.

7. SpiraTeam

SpiraTeam enables teams to manage their requirements, releases, iterations, activities, defects, and program code in a single traceable environment.

Key Features:

• Project requirements and test case management from start to finish, with fully customizable workflows.

• Project portfolio management and program planning assistance.

• Baseline management for artifacts with robust configuration management and version control.

• Tracking of bugs, issues, and tasks.

• Collaboration on documents and electronic signatures.

Cost:

The SaaS edition is priced per concurrent user per month, with prices starting at $42/concurrent user/month. If you pay your bill annually, you will receive a discount.

8. Code Beamer

CodeBeamer is an ALM tool with a lot of power. It can be linked to source code, activities, bugs, tests, and versions, among others. This free ALM tool offers uninterrupted traceability throughout the lifecycle.

Key Features:

• REST API integrations with MS Office, JIRA, IBM DOORS, and Enterprise Architect.

• Process Enforcement & Advanced Requirement Workflows.

• Document management features allow for efficient collaboration.

• The Agile Planning Board makes it simple to plan and manage releases.

• Support for releases and DevOps.

• Demand management and compliance support from beginning to end.

Cost:

CodeBeamer has a free trial after which it costs around $125.00/user/month.

9. VersionOne

VersionOne simplifies product planning by enabling easy backlog management. It was built with DevOps in mind and offers continuous end-to-end delivery. The user interface is drag and drop.

Key Features:

• The drag-and-drop feature allows users to prioritize stories and defects.

• Portfolio Items can be used to manage business initiatives.

• Allows you to organize your items by theme.

• Provide a result that is in line with the company's objectives.

• Keeping track of all feature requests in one location.

Cost:

• Team - Free

• Catalyst: 20 User Pack - $175/Month

• Enterprise: $29/User/Month

• Ultimate: $39/User/Month

VersionOne also offers a free 30-Day Trial.

10. Helix ALM

Helix ALM solution helps companies manage any type of complex ALM process. It's one of the most effective ALM software tools for centralizing and managing requirements, test cases, and issues.

Key Features:

• Increase the amount of information available about the project's health.

• It lowers the risk of product development by allowing cross-team and cross-departmental collaboration.

• Streamline the development and quality assurance processes.

• It ensures that all work items and data are traceable.

• Source Control Systems are deeply integrated.

Cost:

• Named Lic. - $1800/year

• Floating Lic. - $4440/year

• Monthly Subscription - $89/per user

Helix ALM provides a free trial and also a free version of the software.

11. DevSuite

DevSuite is a fully integrated ALM solution. It enables developers and quality assurance managers to track and control all aspects of the application lifecycle management process.

Key Features:

• Increase the overall quality of the product by ensuring that each requirement can be traced back to its source.

• Automation and standardization of work processes.

• Control test execution, manage test cases and plan for test coverage.

• Scalability and performance are unrivaled.

• It provides a customized user experience.

• With the help of a centralized view, make product planning easier.

• Get real-time project updates and manage tasks on your phone or tablet.

Cost:

• Cloud - $35/user/month

• Self-Managed(Perpetual) - One-Time payment - $900 per user

• Self-Managed(Time-Expiring) - $420/user/year

12. Atlassian Jira

Atlassian JIRA is a tool for managing Agile applications. It assists every businessperson in planning, tracking, and reporting on their work.

Key Features:

• Simple task management is made easier with Task Management.

• Without having to send an email or schedule a meeting, everyone gets a quick update on the project's status.

• The Project Management feature makes it possible to organize corporate website designs and employee training programs.

• This open-source ALM tool allows you to measure performance in a variety of ways for a quick overview and report.

• Use pre-made templates or customize them to meet your specific business requirements.

Cost:

• Free - $0 - Free for 10 users

• Standard - $75/month

• Premium - $145/month

13. TeamForge

TeamForge is an application lifecycle management (ALM) platform for collaborative software development. It helps developers deliver software faster. It supports all IP governance, compliance, and security standards.

Key Features:

• It provides cross-organization visibility and traceability into agile processes and development.

• It enables development teams to broaden their agile processes while also promoting closer collaboration.

• It has the ability to easily integrate third-party tools and provides flexible, centralized document management.

• Role-based access control from a central location.

• Using task boards, you can see how far you've come.

Cost:

• Individual projects for workgroups: $99/month (hosted)

• For the Enterprise: $4,995/year (onsite), $14,995/year (hosted)

• Additional users: $695/year (ALM user), $295/year (SCM user)

14. Track+

Track+ is software that manages the engineering lifecycle in a modular manner. It enables the development of software products to be accelerated. Requirements and tests are organized in folders, documents, and document sections using the Track+ ALM tool. It also allows you to use Word or other word processing software to create documents.

Key Features:

• Complete requirements, such as system requirements, hardware requirements, and software requirements, should be organized hierarchically.

• Test cases with requirements and vice versa.

• Allow for the creation of perfect requirements and test specifications using customizable Word document templates.

• It unifies various software development processes into a single, user-friendly interface.

• It allows for traceability throughout the development process.

• Scrum, Kanban, and traditional methodologies are all supported.

Cost:

Track+ offers a free trial after which it costs around $11.00/month.

15. Orcanos

Orcanos ALM offers a complete product delivery service. It includes features such as Collaborative Task Management, Requirements and Testing, ISO 14971 Integrated Risk Management, Quality Control, and Automated Alerts, and more.

Key Features:

• Matrix of complete traceability and coverage.

• Tasks, defects, meetings, codes, and test execution results are all managed.

• The direct impact of any requirement or defect is immediately visible.

• Plan, analyze, and estimate the project's total work effort.

• With the click of a button, you can create a new set of updated document suites.

Cost:

Orcanos offers a free trial after which it will cost you around $99.00/month/feature.

16. Microsoft Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps Services is a cloud service that allows developers to collaborate on code. It offers a complete set of features that you can access via your web browser or IDE client.

Pricing:

Microsoft Azure is the cheapest yet with a plan costing you only $6.00/month. Yes, it does offer a free version without any additional perks.

Features:

• You can quickly navigate to various project areas, create and manage dashboards, and customize dashboard widgets.

• Git (distributed) and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC), a centralized client-server system, are two popular types of source control supported by Azure DevOps systems.

• You can use Azure DevOps systems to track features, requirements, user stories, tasks, bugs, and more with a variety of work items.

17. Planview Leankit

LeanKit assists organizations in implementing Lean principles, practices, and work methodologies across all business functions in order to help them create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in order to deliver more value to customers faster.

Key Features:

• Visually manage work with Kanban boards, which give you the freedom to model any workflow process, no matter how complex it is.

• To ensure that risks to flow are addressed as quickly as possible, visually communicate blocked work and identify process bottlenecks.

Cost:

• Standard Edition - $12/month/user

• Select Edition - $19/month/user

• Advanced Edition - $32/month/user

• Premium Edition - $49/month/user

• Lite Edition - free for up to 3 users

18. Digital.ai Agility

Digital.ai Agility enables organizations to agilely scale their product portfolios at the team level, increasing collaboration and efficiency by providing value-adding software. Agile and scalable planning with flexibility to meet customer and market needs is the foundation of business agility.

Key Features:

• Provides a wiki where useful product documentation can be stored.

• Allows users to interact and ask questions about the product.

• In a sprint, this metric determines how much work an employee can handle.

• To visualize tasks, a Kanban board is provided.

• Allows you to create custom workflows to help you with different processes.

• Measures how far tasks in a product workflow have progressed.

Cost:

• Team - Free

• Enterprise - $29/user/month

• Ultimate - $39/user/month

19. Clickup

ClickUp is a single application that can replace all of them. This is the workplace of the future, where anyone can work on any project. ClickUp has a lot more to offer than business management. It has documents, reminders, goals, calendars, schedules, and even an inbox. ClickUp is fully customizable, allowing all types of teams to plan, organize, and collaborate using the same app.

Key Features:

• Project teams can use ClickUp's features to plan and visualize their plans in multiple views. To manage priorities, use the list view, calendar view, or Gantt view to check timelines and track progress.

• The platform's features can be customized, allowing agile software development teams to use it for bug tracking, sprint management, and product launches.

• Teams can use ClickUp to assign and collaborate on tasks, share documents to create clear processes, set reminders, and see how tasks are progressing from anywhere.

Cost:

• Unlimited - $5 user/month billed annually or $9 user/month billed monthly

• Business - $9 user/month billed annually or $19 user/month billed monthly.

20. Monday.com

Monday.com is an open platform that enables HR managers to create custom solutions for their entire team. Finally, monday.com can be integrated with Gmail and 40+ other tools you already use, allowing the platform to seamlessly supplement your current workflows.

Key Features:

• A Monday.com board is a virtual table where you can keep track of your tasks (each of which is called an item) and subtasks (subitems).

• Monday's checklists, designed for project managers, help divide larger tasks into smaller subtasks, making them easier for your team to complete. They can check the circle next to an item when they're finished with it to mark it as completed.

Cost:

• Basic plan: $10 per seat per month billed monthly (or $8 per seat per month billed annually)

• Standard plan: $12 per seat per month billed monthly (or $10 per seat per month billed annually).

21. Dynatrace

Dynatrace is an application performance and lifecycle management solution that allows retailers, financial markets, transportation companies, emergency services, and government agencies to track and analyze application performance from a single dashboard.

Key Features:

• Without the need for human interaction, diagnose and resolve incidents.

• Direct users through the resolution process and provide specific instructions for resolving specific issues.

• Cuts off network access or temporarily disables applications until the problem is resolved.

• Each incident's details are saved in databases for future reference and analysis.

Cost:

Dynatrace has not provided pricing details yet. However, it does have a free trial and a free version.

22. Aha!

Aha! Roadmaps is a comprehensive product management suite that lets you define strategies, capture ideas, evaluate features, and share visual plans. Aha! Ideas Essentials included for crowdsourcing feedback.

Key Features:

• Manually or automatically set task deadlines and milestones (based on project templates).

• Without having access to other tasks, each user can see their list of tasks that need to be completed.

• Based on the project's scope, plan and create a work breakdown structure (WBS).

Cost:

• Premium - $59.00 per user per month

• Enterprise - $99.00 per user per month

• Enterprise+ - $149.00 per user per month

All plans are billed annually. It also has a free trial.

23. Favro

Favro is the world's unique agile cloud-based collaboration platform, permitting groups to organize themselves around what to do and the way to do it whilst managers pay attention to using high-level goals and why they matter.

Key Features:

• Create and assign tasks with details and due dates to individual users.

• Manually or automatically set task deadlines and milestones (based on project templates).

• Users should be able to customize standard templates to create new projects.

Cost:

Standard and Enterprise plans are available after a free 14-day trial period. The Standard plan is applicable at $6.80/month per feature.

24. Optimizely

Optimizely is the world's leading real-time experimentation platform, allowing businesses to test and personalize websites, mobile apps, and connected devices.

Key Features:

• Supports AB Testing

• Promotes Account-Based Marketing

• Focuses on Audience Targeting

• Emphasizes on Behavioral Targeting

• Supports Campaign Segmentation

Cost:

Optimizely charges about $50,000.00/year.

25. AppDynamics

AppDynamics lets you visualize enterprise and application overall performance in actual time to get an entire image of the end consumer experience.

Key Features:

• Provides users with real-time information on how people are interacting with the site or application using accessibility tools.

• Tracks application and infrastructure resource requirements and notifies administrators or scales usage automatically to reduce waste.

• Monitors web content to ensure that all assets and resources are displayed correctly, and notifies administrators if there are any problems.

Cost:

In total, it costs about $3300.00/year.

26. ZipBoard

ZipBoard is a visual evaluation and computer virus monitoring device that permits your crew to accumulate remarks on virtual content material and apps throughout development.

Key Features:

• ZipBoard makes online collaboration easier, resulting in more efficient project management.

• Designers can use the online tool to upload screenshots of their mockups and prototypes.

• They can keep track of the team members who have been assigned to them, as well as the priority and status. They can also export the issues as CSV files for more in-depth analysis.

Cost:

ZipBoard pricing starts at $39.00 per month, based on usage. There is no free version available. A free trial of zipBoard is available.

27. SpiraTest

SpiraTest is an incorporated QA, check, and requirements control solution that tracks and manages your assignment requirements, check cases, releases, defects, and issues.

Pricing:

The monthly cost of SpiraTest starts at $33.33 per user. There is no free version available. A free trial of SpiraTest is available.

Features:

• All necessary software tests and test cases should be built, collected, and stored in one place.

• Multiple testing types (e.g., regression, smoke) and methods are supported (e.g., integration, performance).

• Without sacrificing functionality or efficiency, scale to thousands of tests, cases, and users.

28. Tuleap

Tuleap is an open source DevOps and Agile Management tool. Document management, issue tracking, test management, and other features are included in this integrated application lifecycle management web solution.

Key Features:

• Administers Administrator Level Control

• Implements Agile Methodologies

• Ensures Backlog Management

• Consists of Bug Tracking

• Helps in Content Management

Cost:

Tuleap pricing starts at $10.00 per month as a flat rate. A free version is available. Tuleap provides a free trial period.

29. ReQtest

ReQtest has a Requirements Management module that allows you to better control, trace, and analyze your business requirements.

Key Features:

• Users can use ReQtest is a test management tool to plan, execute, and follow up on test cases.

• Users can also see a preview of bug reports and use charts to visualize bug-related data.

• Users can define and manage requirements for the entire process, as well as review and track process changes, using the solution's requirement management tool.

Cost:

The monthly cost of ReQtest starts at $6.00 per feature. A free version is available. A free trial of ReQtest is available.

30. Delphix

Delphix is a data governance solution that manages access policies, identifies and masks confidential data to help your organization meet GDPR requirements.

Pricing:

The cost of Delphix features starts at $1.00 per feature. There is no free version available. Delphix provides a risk-free trial.

Features:

• By providing copies to the production teams, you can save a lot of time.

• Holds a compressed representation of the source data and creates virtual data copies that do not require additional storage.

• Ingests data from a variety of sources, including SQL and NoSQL databases, production processes, and current backups.

31. ZenTao

ZenTao is an Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) system that covers the entire software development process.

Key Features:

• Administrator Level Control

• Agile Methodologies

• Client Portal

• Collaboration Tools

• Cost-to-Completion Tracking

Cost:

The ZenTao Pro pricing starts at $24.90 for a one-time payment. A free version is available. A free trial of ZenTao Pro is available.

32. Meliora Testlab

Meliora Teslab is available as a SaaS service or as a local installation. Both work well with other apps like Jira, Jenkins CI, AD, and Confluence, among others.

Key Features:

• Administrator Level Control

• Defect Tracking

• Project Management

• Release Management

• Requirements Review

Cost:

Meliora Testlab's monthly pricing starts at $45.00 per feature. There is no free version available. A free trial is available from Meliora Testlab.

33. Jama Software

Businesses can streamline the entire application development lifecycle with Jama Connect, an on-premise and cloud-based product requirements and application lifecycle management (ALM) solution, from team collaboration to tracking activities throughout test cases. Before changes are implemented, users can examine their effects using the platform, which also identifies impacted things or persons when changes are made.

Key Features:

• Throughout the development process, accurately document and convey requirements, goals, progress, and interdependencies.

• Live end-to-end tracking of individuals, data, and processes

• Real-time impact analysis demonstrating the impact of modifications to requirements both upstream and downstream,

• Create, arrange, and carry out test plans and test cases based on requirements,

• Quickly reproduce functionality across products by reusing proven criteria.

Cost:

Contact the company for the detail.

Things To Consider Before Selecting An Application Lifecycle Management Tool

It's just as important to pick the right ALM software as it is to pick the right ALM vendor. Understand the key features and services provided by ALM toolsets and vendors. When choosing an ALM tool, keep the following factors in mind:

Matching requirements to features

Once an organization has determined its must-have requirements, it must evaluate the features offered by various tool options. It's important to remember that not all aspects of ALM are usually contained in a single tool. Some ALM vendors provide a set of integrated tools that cover the majority of the ALM components. Other vendors develop niche products with specialized functionality in a small number of components and integration with other products to provide true ALM.

Look for tools with strong functionality in the organization's least mature components, and when there are already tools in use, look for ways to integrate them.

Portfolio management software should include features for managing multiple projects and teams, as well as cross-project reporting. Standard reports and a user-friendly method for creating custom reports are ideal. Portfolio management tools include financial management, resource and demand management, as well as planning and scheduling.

Taking control of the release process

The tool or suite of tools must include configuration and release management, as well as version control, in order to provide a complete ALM framework. These features are essential for companies that want to move toward continuous integration and delivery. Application performance monitoring (APM) is an important part of continuous deployment, and some ALM software suites include it.

For teams working with mission-critical applications, financial data, or private data, security management, which includes vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and impact analysis, is a critical feature. Integration with other tools is frequently a make-or-break test, as at least some teams will already have partial solutions they are hesitant to abandon.

Collaboration

Collaboration is the foundation for an application lifecycle management framework, so collaboration is perhaps the most important feature of an ALM software suite. Wikis, chat functionality, historical documentation of multiple user updates, and versioning are all collaboration features that can be found in an ALM tool.

Considerations unique to your company

Other important features to consider in an ALM suite are industry type, size, and the types of projects to be managed, all of which are dependent on the demographics of the organization. If a company is regulated, or if its projects require compliance with or reporting to regulatory authorities, ALM tools with features for requirements traceability, risk management, and regulatory reporting may be required.

Hosting and assistance

Organizations must also consider hosting platforms, the vendor's or partners' availability of support and training, and, most importantly, collaboration functionality. Most ALM tools have an on-premises option, and many now have a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) option as well.

The vendor usually provides application support and training; however, some of the market leaders' resellers also provide support contracts. Resellers are more likely to respond quickly and may be the better option, particularly for organizations without an application support department.

Conclusion

So, here is a list of the top 32 Application Lifecycle Management tools. A good ALM tool integrates with project and resource management tools, providing a clear framework for the workflow from start to finish of the project. Using ALM tools creates a highly visible environment where application requirements can be tracked and modified as needed. A good ALM encourages collaboration between all teams involved in application development.

FAQs

What are ALM Tools?

ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) aids developers and project managers in managing and tracking the application development process. This can be accomplished with a variety of tools.

ALM tools are essentially project management tools that aid in the coordination of people and processes. Version control, the ability for teams to communicate in real-time, requirements management features, estimation and project planning, source code management, and test management are all features to look for in a tool.

What should you consider while buying an ALM Tool?

When choosing an ALM tool, keep the following factors in mind:

• It's simple to set up and use.

• If applicable, the cost of a license

• Customer service quality

• The cost of training employees on how to use the ALM tool.

• The ALM tool's hardware and software requirements

• The tool vendor's support and update policy

• Company reviews of the software provider

• Standard Templates are supported.

• Integration with other applications.

What are the benefits of ALM Tools?

Visibility, traceability, agility, quality promotion, and information management are some of the standard benefits of AML tools: Any good ALM tool must be able to support and manage a variety of different development tools throughout the software development lifecycle. The goal is for every stakeholder to be able to use the tools and for each function to be visible.

In addition, a good solution automates and centralizes development, project, and quality management in a single dashboard. An ALM tool that enables traceability aids teams in understanding the impact of changes made throughout the lifecycle.

What are the advantages of implementing complete ALM?

• Productivity — It guides the team to evolve and optimize at the right time, as well as take corrective actions and decisions, through efficient tracking at all stages of the product software lifecycle.

• Quality — Rather than checking the quality at the end of each cycle when the product reaches the preproduction stage, quality is checked at the end of each cycle so that problems can be identified and fixed sooner rather than later as the product nears launch.

• Agility — It encourages everyone in the company to work in an Agile manner. Throughout, it also introduces effective communication and collaboration channels.

Could ALM best practices help your business?

If properly implemented, ALM is without a doubt the best practice for your company. Before, during, and after the development of your business products, ALM directs your company in the right direction.

It is possible, however, that it is not required for every project. Small, simple projects that don't necessitate a large team or extensive planning may not require ALM at all, as it may be overkill.

Choosing the ideal ALM tool has always been a challenge. The tool must meet your expectations and budget, and it must be transparent so that you can easily share data and ideas with your teammates in real-time.

At the same time, it should be adaptable so that you can easily change your plans if necessary. It must also be simple to use so that all members of the team can use it. As a result, you must carefully weigh your options and make a rational decision.

In what ways do ALM technologies aid agile development?

Agile planning and collaboration tools, such as agile boards, burn-down charts, and roadmaps, are provided by ALM tools to enable agile development. They also give teams immediate access to information about the state of agile projects, enabling them to monitor development and take wise decisions.

How are testing and quality assurance supported by ALM tools?

By offering tools for test management, execution, and reporting, ALM technologies assist in testing and quality assurance. They might also provide functions like load testing, defect tracking, and test automation. Organizations may plan, carry out, and monitor the outcomes of their testing activities using ALM solutions, ensuring the high quality of their applications.